Scherzi musicali

Need a novel gift for your Valentine? Ars Lyrica offers an out-of-the-box treat: Claudio Monteverdi’s spirited Scherzi musicali (“musical jokes”). These game-changing publications from 1607 and 1632 gave life to one of the most famous debates in music history: Monteverdi’s experimental style of vocal writing favored the words, whose careful expression justified the occasional compositional impropriety. Love in all its delicious colors is on the menu, as served up by soprano Dominique McCormick, mezzo-soprano Cecilia Duarte and baritone Brian Shircliffe.

ARS LYRICA HOUSTON

Grammy-nominated Ars Lyrica Houston is a professional performance ensemble dedicated to providing audiences with historically-informed performances of music from the 17th and 18th centuries. These works feature exciting and accomplished artists in performances of beloved masterworks and hidden gems.